A 12-hour-bandh called by pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations over Mahadayi water dispute has hit the normal life in state today with transport services coming to halt; theaters, hotels, malls and schools shut in favour of the protest.
The bandh has been called against the interim order of the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal rejecting Karnataka's plea for 7.56 thousand million cubic feet of water for a drinking water project to serve the state's parched northern regions.
The Mahadayi water-sharing dispute has the states of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka vying for water from the Mahadayi river.
Tension gripped Yamanur village in Hubballi-Dharwad district as police made a lathicharge to disperse protesting farmers.
In Bengaluru, protesters are assembling at Town Hall to launch a massive protest march from Town Hall Circle to Freedom Park via Hudson Circle, KG Road and Palace Road.
The Kannada film industry has also extended its support for the bandh.
Mr Govindu urged PM Narendra Modi to intervene and work for an out-of-court settlement by convening a meeting between chief ministers of the states at loggerheads.
The Kalasa-Banduri Nala (diversion) project, which will utilise 7.56 tmcft of water from the inter-state Mahadayi River, is being undertaken by Karnataka to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the districts of Belagavi and Gadag.
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